Buckle leaves FA Cup surprises Luton

Luton Town manager Paul Buckle has left the club by mutual consent days after their FA Cup fifth round defeat at home to Millwall.

A statement from the Blue Square Bet Premier club said Buckle had left "as a result of genuine personal circumstances unrelated to his tenure as manager of Luton Town Football Club".

The former Torquay manager guided the Hatters to Cup wins over Championship Wolves and Premier League Norwich, but the run ended when Millwall eased to a comfortable 3-0 victory at Kenilworth Road.

The Luton statement said: "The reasons for Paul's departure are fully understood by the board, who sincerely regret that he is leaving.

"We are grateful to Paul for what he has brought to the club, and believe that he has built the foundations necessary for Luton Town to achieve the board's desire of returning to the Football League as soon as possible.

"A further statement will be made tomorrow morning. In the meantime, we are concentrating our efforts on tonight's game [away to Macclesfield in the league].''